Collapsible frame with bent bottom ring



May 19, 1964 N. BROWN 3,133,550

COLLAPSIBLE FRAME WITH BENT BOTTOM RING Filed Sept. 12, 1961 Neil Brown 1 N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,133,550 COLLAPSIBLE FRAME WITH BENT BOTTOM RING Neil Brown, 25 Country Club Drive, Suisun, Calif. Filed Sept. 12, 1961, Ser. No. 137,561

7 Claims. (Cl. 135-5 This invention relates to expansible and collapsible portable covers, and particularly such covers that are adapted to be used for covering foodstuffs as cakes.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 69,967 filed November 17, 1960.

Briefly, the invention relates to a covering supported by a portable frame structure which includes a pair of spaced parallel frame members, a plurality of circumferentially spaced staves linking the members together, like ends of the staves being hingedly connected to one of the members and the opposite ends of the staves being slidably connected to the other of the members whereby the members may be spread and rigidly held apart or, alternatively, collapsed with one member positioned compactly against the other. Although not essential, the aforementioned individual members, may be referred to as top and bottom members in the drawings, constitute frames. Each frame is preferably, but not necessarily of circular ring-like form in plan, the frames being substantially alike in construction.

In carrying out the invention, generically constructed, one ring-like frame is provided at circumferentially spaced points with assembling and retaining staves. The other frame is provided with one or more braces and the ends of the staves adjacent to the braces are slidingly connected with the braces, making it possible to prop the staves in vertical position to expand and hold the frames apart so as to release and fold the staves so that the two frames may be collapsed into compact relation. A collapsible frame having the structural characteristics disclosed constitutes an openwork or skeleton framework for a readily applicable and removable canopy or cover. By using a decorative flexible cover and applying it removably to the frame, the cover and frame provide an ideal cake enclosing and protecting box.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a collapsible cover which is particularly adapted for covering cakes, but may also be used if made to a different scale for a collapsible tent, for supporting the cover of a patio table and for other purposes.

It is another object of the invention to provide a collapsible cover having a bottom ring supported at diametrically opposite sides and having the ring preformed out of a coplanar shape so that when the ring is stressed by the cover and its supporting braces it will be deflected to a coplanar shape.

It is another object of the invention to provide a collapsible cover which has transparent side walls for viewing the contents thereof. U

It is another object of the invention to provide a collapsible frame for a cover which automatically snaps and locks in operative position.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a collapsible cover which is simple in design, economical to manufacture, and durable and reliable in use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view partially in section of the cover and frame in expanded operative position;

3,133,550 Patented May 19, 1964 FIGURE 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the supporting frame;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view through the center of the cover showing it in expanded operative position and in a partially collapsed position;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 44 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 55 in FIGURE 3.

The cover assembly 19 comprises a rigid frame assembly 12 and a cover 14.

The frame 12 comprises an upper annular ring 16 and a lower annular ring 18 parallel thereto and concentric therewith. The rings are of substantially the same size.

The upper ring 16 has diametrically opposite portions connected rigidly by two slightly spaced rods 26 whose ends are welded securely to the ring 16 as shown at 22.

The rings 16 and 18 are connected by two identical upstanding struts 24 011 diametrically opposite sides of the rings. Each strut comprises a lower upwardly tapered portion 26 terminating at its upper end in-a neck 28 having a head or flared portion 30 on its upper end including an upper rectangular angulated flange portion 32. It is to be noted that each strut 24 is formed from sheet metal. The tapered portion 26 is reinforced and strengthened so as to make it more rigid by a U- shaped rib 34 which extends longitudinally of the central portion of the strut.

As shown particularly in FIGURES 2 and 4, each rectangular flange portion 32 extends upwardly and outwardly from its flared or head portion 30 and tapered portion 26. The flange portions 32 are each angulated approximately 30 relative to the corresponding lower portion 26 and has two spaced bores extending therethrough, the axis of the bores being normal to the surface of the rectangular flange portion 32. Where each bore intersects the inner surface of the rectangular flange portion 32, an annular sharp edge 36 is formed. The bores in the rectangular portion slidingly receive the rods 20 and are elliptical in shape.

The bottom end of the tapered portion 26 of each strut converges into a rectangular base portion 38. Each base portion 38 has an inverted U-shaped notch 40 formed in its vertical center. The U-shaped notch 44 forms side legs 42 whose lower ends are looped around the bottom ring 18 and rotatably receive the latter.

It is to be noted that a portion 46 of the ring 18 between each pair of legs 42 is flattened and that the flattened portions are not slidable through the loops 44. Therefore, the struts are prevented from sliding circumferentially about the lower ring 18. t

It is to be particularly noted that the portion of the ring 18 which extends between the loops 44 and slightly therebeyond is flat. However, diametrically opposite portions of the ring 18 are bent downwardly at 46 so as to form two diametrically opposite portions 48 and 50 which each forms a slight angle with the plane of the portions between the legs 42 and the plane of the ring 16. Normally, the portions 48 and 50 would extend downwardly as shown by the dotted lines in FIGURE 3. However, in use, these portions are deflected upwardly into a plane parallel with the plane of the ring 16 as explained below.

The cover 14 comprises a circular top portion 52 and a cylindrical side portion 54 connected together as shown in FIGURE 4 by having the upper edge of the portion 54 deflected outwardly into an annular flange 56 coplanar with the ring 16. The flange 56 is bonded or cemented to the outer peripheral portion of the top portion 52 and the edges of both are inserted into an annular ring 58 which is U-shaped in cross section and preferably also bonded or glued to portions 52 and 54. The entire cover 14 is preferably made of a tough, flexible, and durable plastic which is impervious to air, and the portion 14 is preferably transparent. The bottom edge portion of the cylindrical cover portion 54 is flared inwardly to form a flange 60. The inner edge of the flange 60 extends into a flexible plastic ring 62 which is substantially smaller in diameter than the ring 18.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1 at 64 the legs of the U-shaped ring 58 and the outer edges of the cover membars are preferably also sewed together by stitches 64. Likewise, the ring 62 may be sewed to the flange 64 When the cover is in extended operative position, the struts 24 extend substantially normal to the planes of the ring 16 and 18 and rigidly maintain them in spaced position while maintaining considerable tension on the cylindrical cover portion 54 so as to maintain it taut and unwrinkled. If the ring 18 were normally fiat, the unsupported diametrically opposite outer edges 64 and 66 would be pulled upwardly by the tension of the cover member 54 thereby causing the ring to be bowed and preventing it from seating properly on a flat surface for sealing the interior of the cover 10. Therefore, in order to cause the ring 18 to be deflected into a flat coplanar positioned as viewed in solid lines in FIGURE 3 and in operative position, the ring is deformed so that its outer edge portions 64 and 66 are normally deflected downwardly as shown at 64' and 66' when no tension or strain is imposed on the ring 18.

To collapse the cover for storage or shipping, it is only necessary to grasp the neck portions 28 in opposite hands and force them together. This causes the edges 36 to snap out of the V-shaped recesses 68 formed in the lower surfaces of the outer ends of the rods 20. When the upper ends of the struts 24 we moved together along the rods 20, the rings 16 and 18 are urged together thereby until they are substantially adjacent one another. As the rings are forced together by the struts 24, the cylindrical cover portion 54 buckles or collapses like an accordion so as to occupy a minimum of space between the rings when they are in fully collapsed position.

The upper cover portion 52 may comprise a laminated or quilted plastic pad with fanciful decorations on its upper surface. The frame assembly 12 is preferably composed of metal such as iron coated or plated with a rustproof metal such as cadmium.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A collapsible frame structure comprising vertically spaced upper and lower generally horizontal frames, a plurality of elongated and upstanding struts interconnected between corresponding peripherally spaced side portions of said frames maintaining the latter in vertically spaced and vertically aligned positions, at least one of said frames being constructed of resilient material and defining substantially planar frame portions disposed between adjacent struts, the adjacent ends of said planar frame portions being angulated relative to each other with the mid-portions of said frame portions disposed intermediate their opposite ends being inclined away from the medial plane of the other frame and flexible upstanding peripheral wall means extending between and about said frames secured along its upper and lower edge portions to said upper and lower frames, respectively, the struts of said frame structure, when the latter is erected, being under longitudinal compression with said one frame flexed to a substantially planar condition whereby not only the side portions of said peripheral wall corresponding to said peripherally spaced side portions of said frames will be taut but the side portions of said peripheral wall disposed intermediate the said struts will also be tensioned by the resiliency of said one frame and supported in a taut condition.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein one set of corresponding ends of said struts we pivotally secured to a first frame of said frames for rotation about axes generally paralleling the longitudinal centerlines of the portions of said first frame to which said struts are secured for swinging movement of the other set of corresponding ends of said struts inwardly of said first frame toward collapsed positions generally paralleling the medial plane of said first frame.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein one set of corresponding ends of said struts are pivotally secured to a first frame of said frame for rotation about axes generally paralleling the longitudinal centerlines of the center portions of said first frame to which said struts are secured for swinging movement of the other set of corresponding ends of said struts inwardly of said first frame toward collapsed positions generally paralleling the medial plane of said first frame, said first frame and said one set of corresponding ends of said struts including coacting means preventing shifting of said struts longitudinally of the portions of said first frame to which said struts are pivotally secured.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein the second of said frames includes elongated guide means interconnecting the said corresponding opposite side portions thereof, the second set of corresponding ends of said struts including means slidably engaging said guide means for movement longitudinally therealong.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said guide means and said second set of corresponding ends of said struts include coacting means for releasably securing said second set of ends at opposite end portions of said guide means when said frame structure is erected.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said second set of corresponding ends of said struts include means abuttingly engageable with said peripherally spaced side portions of said second frame for limiting outward movement of said second set of ends away from each other.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said guide means includes an elongated rod, said second sets of ends including outwardly canted upper end portions having bores therein slidingly receiving the outer ends of said rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,375,397 Lawrence Apr. 19, 1921 2,405,627 Williams Aug. 13, 1946 2,466,220 Ferguson Apr. 5, 1949 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE FRAME STRUCTURE COMPRISING VERTICALLY SPACED UPPER AND LOWER GENERALLY HORIZONTAL FRAMES, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED AND UPSTANDING STRUTS INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN CORRESPONDING PERIPHERALLY SPACED SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID FRAMES MAINTAINING THE LATTER IN VERTICALLY SPACED AND VERTICALLY ALIGNED POSITIONS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FRAMES BEING CONSTRUCTED OF RESILIENT MATERIAL AND DEFINING SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR FRAME PORTIONS DISPOSED BETWEEN ADJACENT STRUTS, THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID PLANAR FRAME PORTIONS BEING ANGULATED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER WITH THE MID-PORTIONS OF SAID FRAME PORTIONS DISPOSED INTERMEDIATE THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS BEING INCLINED AWAY FROM THE MEDIAL PLANE OF THE OTHER FRAME AND FLEXIBLE UPSTANDING PERIPHERAL WALL MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND ABOUT SAID FRAMES SECURED ALONG ITS UPPER AND LOWER EDGE PORTIONS TO SAID UPPER AND LOWER FRAMES, RESPECTIVELY, THE STRUTS OF SAID FRAME STRUCTURE, WHEN THE LATTER IS ERECTED, BEING UNDER LONGITUDINAL COMPRESSION WITH SAID ONE FRAME FLEXED TO A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR CONDITION WHEREBY NOT ONLY THE SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID PERIPHERAL WALL CORRESPONDING TO SAID PERIPHERALLY SPACED SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID FRAMES WILL BE TAUT BUT THE SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID PERIPHERAL WALL DISPOSED INTERMEDIATE THE SAID STRUTS WILL ALSO BE TENSIONED BY THE RESILIENCY OF SAID ONE FRAME AND SUPPORTED IN A TAUT CONDITION. 